Infeed and outfeed assemblies for a conveyor

ABSTRACT

A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway. The outfeed assembly further includes a drive sprocket and a limiter to ensure engagement of drive elements on the conveyor belt with the drive sprockets. A limiter plate ensures proper placement of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily mounted to and removed from the conveyor frame to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/151,617, filed Apr. 23, 2015 and entitled “Infeed andOutfeed Assemblies for a Conveyor”, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to power-driven conveyors. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to infeed and outfeed assemblies fora conveyor to transition conveyed items onto and off of the conveyor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Power-driven conveyors are used to convey items. Infeed assemblies areused to transition items onto the conveyor as the conveyor belt movesfrom a returnway to a carryway above the returnway. Outfeed assembliesare used to transition items off of the conveyor as the belt moves fromthe carryway to the returnway. A drive moves the conveyor belt throughthe conveying circuit. For example, drive sprockets mounted on arotatable shaft may engage and drive the conveyor belt along theconveying circuit.

Currently, it is difficult to either clean or maintain cleanliness inconveyors and-or to disassemble certain components for cleaning,replacement or maintenance.

In addition, small transfers of items are generally limited to flatbelts that operate using pretension. The pretension, combined with thevelocity of the infeed and-or outfeed rollers, results in a short lifespan for the rollers or static nose bars that guide the belts.Replacement of worn components leads to downtime of the conveyor and canbe difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A conveyor comprises a frame, a positive-drive, low tension conveyorbelt trained around an infeed portion and an outfeed portion. An infeedassembly is mounted to the frame and includes a removable belt-guidingassembly comprising an axle extending between mounting plates and arotatable nosebar mounted to the axle. The mounting plates are removablemounted to the frame to integrate the belt-guiding assembly into theconveyor. An outfeed assembly may also include a removable belt-guidingassembly, and also employs a roller limiter for ensuring properengagement of the conveyor belt with a drive sprocket or tensionamplifier and limiter plate for ensuring proper placement of the rollerlimiter relative to the drive sprocket or tension amplifier.

According to one aspect, a conveyor comprises a frame including opposingside plates at an end of the conveyor and a removable belt-guidingassembly mounted to the opposing side plates. Each side plate includesat least one outward-facing protrusion. The belt-guiding assemblycomprises a support beam extending from a first side to a second side,arms extending from the support beam, an axle supported by the arms, theaxle having a curved end, and a rotatable nosebar mounted on the axle.The removable belt-guiding assembly is mounted to the frame using theoutward-facing protrusion.

According to another aspect, a belt-guiding assembly for guiding aconveyor belt around an end of a conveyor frame comprises a support beamextending from a first side to a second side, a plurality of armsextending from the support beam, each arm including an opening, an axlepassing through the openings, the axle having a curved end and aplurality of rotatable nosebar segments inserted in spaces between thearms and mounted on the axle.

According to another aspect, a conveyor comprises a frame, apositive-drive, low tension conveyor belt trained around an infeedportion and an outfeed portion. The out feed portion comprises a beltguiding assembly comprising a rotatable nosebar for guiding the conveyorbelt from a carryway to a returnway a drive sprocket mounted on a driveshaft below the belt guiding assembly and a roller limiter mounted afixed distance away from the drive sprocket to ensure engagement of theconveyor belt with the drive sprocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an infeed end of a conveyor according toan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the infeed assembly of FIG. 1 without theconveyor belt;

FIG. 3 shows a nosebar assembly of the infeed end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of the nosebar assembly of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the nosebar assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the infeed assembly of FIG. 1,showing the interface between the nosebar assembly and mounting plate;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an outfeed end of a conveyor according toan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a detailed close up view of the portion of the outfeed end ofFIG. 7 with the conveyor belt removed;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a portion of the outfeed end of FIG. 8with the conveyor belt removed;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the outfeed end of FIG. 7 from a non-motorside of the assembly;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the outfeed end from a motor side;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the outfeed end of FIG. 7, with a handle in afirst position;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view through line A-A of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the outfeed end of FIG. 7, with a handle in asecond position;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view through line B-B of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front view of the outfeed end of FIG. 7 during removal ofthe roller limiter;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the outfeed end of FIG. 7 duringpivoting of the roller limiter around the drive shaft;

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the outfeed end during removal of anosebar assembly;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of an outfeed assembly for a conveyoraccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 20 is an exploded view of the outfeed assembly of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a detailed view of section 3 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a detailed view of a portion of a portion of the outfeedassembly of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 23 shows a portion of an outfeed assembly including a handle ofanother embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sanitary system at the infeed and-oroutfeed end of a conveyor that can be easily installed and removedwithout tools. The system facilitates transfer of products to and frompositively-driven low tension endless conveyor belts and enables smalldiameter transfers. The present invention will be described belowrelative to an illustrative embodiment. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a number ofdifferent applications and embodiments and is not specifically limitedin its application to the particular embodiments depicted herein.

FIG. 1 shows an infeed portion 10 of a conveyor belt system according toan embodiment of the invention. The conveyor belt system includes aframe and a positively-driven, low tension conveyor belt 20, such as theThermoDrive® belt available from Intralox, L.L.C., the Cleandrivepositive drive belt available from Habasit AG, the Gates MectrolPosiClean® positive drive belt available from Gates Mectrol, the VoltaSuperDrive™ and other positive drive belts available from Volta Beltingand other positively-driven, low tension conveyor belts known in theart. The invention is not limited to these belts, and may be implementedwith any suitable positive-drive, low tension conveyor belt. Theillustrative conveyor belt has a smooth outer surface substantially freeof discontinuities and an inner surface with a plurality of teeth at agiven belt pitch or other suitable drive elements. The conveyor belt 20conveys products along a carryway and returns along a returnway belowthe carryway. The conveyor belt may be conventionally trained aroundbelt-guiding members in the infeed portion 10 and outfeed portion 12(shown in FIGS. 3-4B), as described below.

At the infeed end 10, the conveyor belt 20 comes up from the returnway13 and enters the carryway 14, and items to be conveyed transition ontothe conveyor belt 10. First and second frame plates 30, 40 are locatedon either side of the conveyor belt 20 to connect the infeed assembly 10to the conveyor frame (not shown). The frame plate 30 includes slots 31,32 and protrusions 33, 34 for mounting a belt-guiding assembly, shown asnosebar assembly 70, for guiding the conveyor belt 20 at this transitionpoint. The opposite frame plate 40 includes similar mounting structure,though the invention is not limited to the illustrative mountingstructure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the infeed portion 10 with the conveyorbelt 20 removed. The infeed portion includes a guide plate 15 forming anend of the carryway, which curves down along the front edges of theframe plates. Brackets 19 extend from the front side of the guide plateto support the nosebar assembly 70.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the nosebar assembly 70 comprises one or morepassive rotatable nosebars 72 for guiding the conveyor belt. In theillustrative embodiment, the nosebar assembly comprises a series ofnosebars 72 mounted on an axle 74 or other structure. The nosebarassembly 70 includes mounting plates 50, 60 for mounting the nosebarassembly 70 to the conveyor frame plates 30, 40. The mounting plates 50,60 include slots 51, 52, 61, 62 for allowing the mounting plates to bemounted on the frame plates 30, 40, by engaging the protrusions 33, 34,though any suitable means for mounting the mounting plates 50, 60 to theframe plates 30, 40 may be used. Each upper slot 51, 61 is formed in therear edge of the respective plate 50 or 60, extends in and up towardsthe top of the plate. Each lower slot 52, 62 extends up from a loweredges of the respective plate.

A nosebar axle 74 extends between and is supported by the mountingplates 50, 60. The nosebar axle 74 includes a straight body portion andone or more end curves 76 to allow the nosebar axle 74 to lock intoplace, or rotate to allow for easy disassembly and replacement of thenosebars 72. The nosebar axle 74 ensures that all nosebars 72 arecoaxial and allow free rotation of the nosebars 72 about the axle,driven by the conveyor belt 20.

When the axle 74 and the end assembly are connected, the axle 74 islocked. When removed from the conveyor, the shaft 74 can be rotated andremoved. As it is removed, each individual nosebar 72 can come out.

The nosebar 72, an embodiment of which is described in US PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/00116856 entitled “Positively-Driven,Low Tension Transfer Conveyor”, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference, forms a guide structure for guiding theconveyor belt around the infeed end. The nosebar 72 is mounted on and isfreely rotatable about the nosebar axle 74. Roller bearings or otherdevices may facilitate rotation of the nosebar 72 about the nosebar axle74. The nosebar 72 has a relatively small diameter, which may be smallerthan the arc of the natural curvature of the belt 10. The small radiusof the nosebar allows a smaller gap between two conveyor belts orbetween the conveyor belt and another device to ensure a smoothtransition, The nosebars 72 have a grooved profile, shown as teeth 78that engage drive structure on the conveyor belt 10 to allow theconveyor belt 10 to drive the nosebars 72. The nosebars function asslide bearings and the use of a series of segments across the width ofthe axle 74 limits deflection of the axle 74 and conveyor belt 20.

The nosebar assembly 70 further includes a support beam 80 extendingbetween the mounting plates 50, 60 providing structural support for thenosebar assembly 70. The illustrative support beam 80 includes arms 81,brackets and-or other supports that extend from the support beam 80between each nosebar 72 in the series of nosebars to ensure properspacing of the nosebars when a series of nosebars is employed.Alternatively, or in addition, the arms 81 provide intermediate supportfor the nosebars 72. As shown in FIG. 5, the arms 81 may includeopenings 82 through which the axle 74 passes. The arms space thenosebars along the axle.

The curved end 76 of the axle 74 can lock into place in a space betweenthe support 80, frame plate 30 and mounting plate 50 when the mountingplates 50, 60 are mounted to the frame plates 30, 40, as shown in FIG.6. The illustrative tip 76 a of the curved end extends along the frontof the mounting plate 50.

The nosebar assembly 70 is preferably constructed of laser-cut andformed stainless steel parts.

The nosebar assembly 70 may be easily removed from the frame plates toallow cleaning or replacement. While assembled, the nosebar assemblyfacilitates the transition of conveyed items onto the conveyor belt 10.The nosebar assembly 70, which may also be used at the outfeed end, asdescribed below, functions as a slide bearing on a small shaft,periodically supported to offer long life. The illustrative nosebarassembly 70 can be replaced or accessed without tools and withoutremoving the conveyor belt. The axle 74 can be rotated up and slid out,allowing a nosebar 72 or a plurality of the nosebars to be easilyreplaced.

A tension amplifier may be used to conform the conveyor belt to thenosebar assembly, if required, as described in US Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/00116856.

Referring to FIGS. 7-18, an outfeed end 12 of the conveyor smoothlytransitions conveyed items off of the conveyor belt (not shown). Theoutfeed portion is mounted to a conveyor frame 16 includes outfeednosebar assembly 70′ disposed at the end of the carryway to transitionthe conveyor belt from the carryway to the sprocket assembly therebelow.The frame 16 includes two side mounting plates connected by a lateralplate. A drive for the conveyor belt 20 is disposed below the outfeednose assembly. In the illustrative embodiment, the drive comprises oneor a series of drive sprockets 90 mounted to a drive shaft 92 fordriving the conveyor belt 20. The sprockets 90 include teeth 94 or otherdrive structure for engaging teeth or other drive structure on theconveyor belt. A motor 96 connected to the drive shaft 92 rotates thedrive shaft to move the conveyor belt. Other suitable drive may be used.

The illustrative conveyor frame 16 includes side mounting plates,comprising opposing side plates including a top plate 30′ for mounting anosebar assembly, a middle slot or receptacle for receiving a driveshaft 92 and a bottom opening 127 for securing a position limiter, suchas a roller limiter, as described below.

The illustrative sprockets 90 comprise split sprockets comprising twomating halves that engage the drive shaft 92. The drive sprockets mayemploy a snap-clamp that mates with a channel on the drive shaft 92 toassemble the drive sprocket on the drive shaft. Examples of suchsnap-clamps and sprockets are described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/602,741, entitled “Cleanable Conveyor Frame Assembly IncludingSnap-On Components, filed Jan. 22, 2015 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/602,455 entitled “Snap-On Position Limiter for a Conveyor Belt”filed Jan. 22, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,296,565. The contents of bothapplications are herein incorporated by reference.

The drive sprocket 90 can be full width or a series of individuallyspaced sprockets, and the invention is not limited to the illustrativedesign.

A bearing 98 mounted to the end of the drive shaft 92 opposite the motor96 facilitates rotation of the drive shaft 92 and is mounted to theframe 16 via mating protrusions in the frame and openings in thebearing. Another bearing may receive the opposite end of the drive shaft92 near the motor 96.

The outfeed portion 12 further includes a position limiter to ensureproper engagement of the drive sprockets 90 and the conveyor belt 20. Inthe illustrative embodiment, the position limiter is a roller limiter110 that is placed a fixed distance away from the drive sprockets 90 toensure that the teeth of the conveyor belt engage, and stay engaged withthe drive sprockets. The limiter obviates the need for pretension of theconveyor belt 20, which significantly extends the life of the conveyorbelt. The use of a position limiter also obviates the need for ball orroller bearings in the infeed and-or outfeed rollers, allowing the useof a nosebar assembly 70 or 70′ in the infeed and outfeed ends. Theroller limiter 110 freely spins about its longitudinal axis.

The outfeed portion 12 further includes one or more limiter plates 120to connecting the limiter 110 to the drive shaft and ensuring a properposition of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. At a top end,the limiter plate 120 engages the drive shaft 92. In the illustrativeembodiment, the top end includes an opening 122 for receiving the driveshaft 92 and allowing the limiter plate 120 to pivot about the driveshaft 92. At a bottom end, the limiter plate 120 engages the limiter110. The illustrative bottom end includes an opening 124 forming abushing for receiving an axle end 112 extending from the limiter 110. Ina middle portion, the limiter plate 120 includes a radial slot 126 toallow radial adjustment of the limiter plate to ensure optimal belttooth engagement of with the drive sprockets 90. A protrusion,illustrated as a bolt 128, extends through the radial slot 126 and intothe frame 16 of the conveyor. The illustrative frame 16 includes anopening 127 for receiving the bolt 128. The bolt 128 may be loosened andtightened to allow adjustment of the limiter plate 120 to selectivelymove the limiter 110. The ability to allow radial adjustment of thelimiter plate ensures that the position limiter can provide optimal belttooth engagement with the drive sprockets.

Referring to FIGS. 11-16, the outfeed assembly may include a lockingmechanism for selectively locking the roller limiter 110 in place. Inthe illustrative embodiment, a locking mechanism 118 is disposed at themotor-side of the roller limiter, though the invention is not solimited. The locking mechanism 118 allows removal of the roller limiter.As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the illustrative locking mechanism 118cradles a limiter plate 121 on a motor side of the roller limiter 110and includes a handle 1181, upper pin 1182 extending through the limiterplate 121, a middle pin 1183 and a lower pin 1184 cradling the bottom ofthe limiter plate. When inserted, the middle pin passes into an opening114 through which the second axle end 113 of the roller limiter extends.As shown in FIG. 16, the middle pin 1183 passes through an opening 114in the second axle end to secure the roller limiter 110, as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. Pulling the locking mechanism 118, as shown in FIGS. 14and 15, pulls the middle pin 1183 from the opening 114 and disengagesthe limiter plate 121 from the cradling lower pin 1184, allowing theaxle nub of the roller limiter to shift, releasing the roller limiterfrom position. As shown in FIG. 16, the roller limiter 110 can beremoved from the assembly. Pushing the locking mechanism 118 inserts thelocking mechanism arms into the limiter plate 121 and locks the rollerlimiter 110 to the limiter plate 121, holding the roller limiter inplace.

Other suitable locking mechanism for selectively locking and releasingthe roller limiter 110 in place may be used. The locking mechanismenables repeatable, tool-less mounting and release of the roller limiterand ensures proper placement of the roller limiter relative to and inalignment with the drive sprockets.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the outfeed assembly allows for easyassembly, adjustment and disassembly without tools. For example, asshown in FIG. 17, when the cap forming a bearing 98 form the drive shaft92 is removed and the bolt 128 is removed from the opening 127 in theframe 16, releasing the limiter plate 120, the roller limiter 110, stillconnected to the drift shaft 92 via the limiter plate, may pivot aboutthe drift shaft to allow access or adjustment.

As shown in FIG. 18, the nosebar assembly 70′ can be easily removed fromthe outfeed assembly for replacement or access to other components inthe assembly. In another embodiment, the infeed and-or outfeed assemblyforms a tension amplifier for selectively increasing tension in alimited portion of the conveyor belt. The tension amplifier employs abraking device to add tension to a select zone. For example, instead ofdriving the conveyor belt at the outfeed end, the drive sprocket androller limiter may form a braking version of a tension amplifier, withthe motor and driver positioned elsewhere to drive the conveyor belt inanother location.

While the illustrative embodiment shows that the outfeed assembly can beadjusted independent of the drive sprockets or tension amplifier,alternatively, either the infeed assembly or outfeed assembly can bemade non-adjustable.

Embodiments of the invention ensure that the roller limiter is properlyplaced relative to and in alignment with the drive sprockets 90,preventing unreliable performance of the conveyor belt and limitingpinching of the conveyor belt, which can crease and destroy the conveyorbelt. The use of a limiter plate 120 ensures that the roller limiter 110is always the correct distance away from the center of the shaft 92 ofthe sprocket 90, and it is prevented from migrating out of position. Thelimiter can only move radially about either the drive sprocket ortension amplifier. The locking mechanism for the limiter and limiterplate facilitates mounting and disassembly of the roller limiter.

The assembly ensures that the limiter roller is always in the correctposition and correct alignment relative to the drive sprocket (or thetension amplifier, if the drive sprocket is braked), but also ensuresthat the infeed and outfeed nosebars are similarly aligned.

In addition, the use of a similar design for the infeed and outfeed,namely the use of an identical or similar nosebar assembly, facilitatesassembly and operation.

FIGS. 19-22 show another embodiment of an outfeed assembly 200 for aconveyor that employs similar concept. The outfeed assembly 200comprises side mounting plates connected by a lateral plate to form aframe 216. The side mounting plates include openings for mounting adrive shaft 292 carrying drive sprockets 290. A motor 296 drives the 296drive shaft. The ends of the drive shaft 292 are held in the openings ofthe side mounting plates using bearings 298 mounted to the side mountingplates. A position limiter, shown as roller limiter, 210 is also mountedto the side mounting plates using limiter plates 221. Each limiter plate221 has an upper opening for receiving the drive shaft 292(corresponding to opening 122 above), a lower opening 224 for receivingan axle end of the position limiter 210. The limiter plate 221 includesa radial slot 226 through which a protrusion, such as a bolt 228, passesto secure the limiter plate 221 to the side mounting plates.

The lower opening 224 comprises a receptacle for the axle ends 212 ofthe roller limiter. Each axle end 212 further includes a vertical slot213 in the end face. The axle end 212 may be shaped and tapered, forexample having a flat top and bottom and rounded sides. The receptacle224 is configured to receive the axle end 212, as shown in FIG. 21. Thereceptacle also includes an opening facing the outer side of the sidemounting plates. A protrusion 230 extends outward from the receptacle.

The assembly 200 further includes a handle 240 for selectively adjustingthe position limiter 210. The handle 240 includes a base portionincluding a curved channel 241 and a handle portion 242. On an insidesurface, the handle 240 includes a boss 243 extending inwards that isconcentric with the curved channel. An eccentric pin 245 extends fromthe boss. When assembled, the boss 243 of the handle is inserted in intothe opening 226 so that the eccentric pin 245 is inserted in the slot213 of the position limiter and the protrusion 230 passes into thecurved channel 241. When the handle is rotated, the boss spins in theopening, moving the eccentric pin forward, which pushes the positionlimiter forward. Protrusion in channel guides.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 23, a handle 340 for selectivelylocking a position limiter 310 relative to a limiter plate 321 maycomprise a pivotable handle that selectively engages a slot 313 in theend face of the position limiter. Other suitable means for selectivelyretaining a position limiter in place may be used, and the invention isnot limited to the illustrative handles.

The scope of the claims is not meant to be limited to the details of thedescribed exemplary embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A conveyor, comprising: a frame includingopposing side plates at an end of the conveyor, each side plateincluding at least one outward-facing protrusion; and a removablebelt-guiding assembly mounted to the opposing side plates, thebelt-guiding assembly comprising a support beam extending from a firstside to a second side, arms extending from the support beam, an axlehaving a curved end and supported by the arms, and a rotatable nosebarmounted on the axle, wherein the removable belt-guiding assembly ismounted to the frame using the outward-facing protrusion.
 2. Theconveyor of claim 1, wherein the removable belt-guiding assemblycomprises a first mounting plate connected to the first side of thesupport beam and second mounting plate connected to the second side ofthe support beam, each mounting plate including a slot for engaging theoutward facing protrusions to integrate the belt-guiding assembly intothe conveyor.
 3. The conveyor of claim 2, wherein the curved end extendsbetween a front edge of one of the side plates and the first mountingplate when the belt-guiding assembly is mounted to the opposing sideplates.
 4. The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the rotatable nosebarcomprises a plurality of toothed, rotatable nosebar segments arranged inseries on the axle.
 5. The conveyor of claim 4, wherein the arms extendbetween the nosebar segments and each arm includes an opening forreceiving the axle.
 6. The conveyor of claim 4, further comprising anopening each of the side plates below the protrusions for receiving adrive shaft having at least one drive sprocket mounted thereon fordriving a conveyor belt.
 7. The conveyor of claim 6, further comprisinga roller position limiter mounted a fixed distance away from the driveshaft to ensure engagement of the conveyor belt with the drive sprocket.8. The conveyor of claim 7, further comprising a limiter plateconnecting the drive shaft with the roller position limiter.
 9. Theconveyor of claim 8, wherein the limiter plate includes an upper openingfor receiving the drive shaft, a lower opening for receiving an axle endof the roller position limiter and a radial slot between the upperopening and the lower opening for receiving a protrusion to selectivelysecure the limiter plate to a side plate.
 10. The conveyor of claim 9,further comprising a handle for selectively releasing the axle end fromthe lower opening.
 11. The conveyor of claim 10, wherein the handlecomprises a pin that extends through an opening in the axle end, wherebyretraction of the pin releases the axle end.
 12. A belt-guiding assemblyfor guiding a conveyor belt around an end of a conveyor frame,comprising: a support beam extending from a first side to a second side;a plurality of arms extending from the support beam, each arm includingan opening; an axle passing through the openings, the axle having acurved end; a plurality of rotatable nosebar segments inserted in spacesbetween the arms and mounted on the axle.
 13. The belt-guiding assemblyof claim 12, further comprising: a first mounting plate including atleast one slot; a second mounting plate opposing the first mountingplate and including at least one slot, wherein the support beam extendsbetween the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate.
 14. Thebelt-guiding assembly of claim 13, wherein the first mounting plateincludes an upper slot and a lower slot for engaging first and secondprotrusions on the conveyor frame.
 15. The belt-guiding assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the nosebar segments each include a plurality ofperipheral teeth for engaging a conveyor belt.
 16. A conveyor,comprising: a frame; a positive-drive, low tension conveyor belt trainedaround an infeed portion and an outfeed portion, the outfeed portioncomprising: a belt-guiding assembly comprising a rotatable nosebar forguiding the conveyor belt from a carryway to a returnway; a drivemounted on a drive shaft below the belt-guiding assembly; and a rollerlimiter mounted a fixed distance away from the drive to ensureengagement of the conveyor belt with the drive.
 17. The conveyor ofclaim 16, further comprising: a limiter plate for connecting the rollerlimiter to the drive.
 18. The conveyor of claim 17, wherein the limiterplate comprises an upper opening for receiving the drive shaft and alower opening for receiving an axle end of the roller limiter.
 19. Theconveyor of claim 18, wherein the limiter plate includes an axial slotthat receives a protrusion that engages an opening in the frame.
 20. Theconveyor of claim 18, further comprising a handle for selectivelysecuring the limiter plate to the roller limiter.